The Republican journal., 1887-11-17
The Republican Victory in Rhode Island.

lHc western l)StfItI OF knOuC Island, on
Tuesday. by Il plurality of S3S votes his ma
jority was 542. So determined was the fight
made by the Democrats that majority victory
was hardly anticipated. 1t is none the less
welcome OH that account. Judge Bradley rc-
ceived 1.2lS votes, the largest number ever
pollcd fer any Democratic candidate In this
district. His vote last year reached 5,42G, or a
plurality of 57111 over the Republican candidate.
Adding to that margin in his favor the present
increase in his vote of l ,S22, it is found that
the task set before Mr.. Arnold's supporters
consisted Of augmenting the Republican vote
by 2,399 ballots. This was done. and hand
some surplus of S3S indicates how deeply the
citizens of this State appreciate the necessity
OF sending to Congress man who will legi>-
late for the protection of our industries.
But the victory of Mr.. Arnold is not the only
one celebrated by booming cannon, brass bands
and lurid bonfres. Colonel Goodwin was elect
ed Mayor of Pawtucket after sharp contest:
his majority was 172. Again Horace A. Fol
lett is selected as State Senator by the town of
Cumberland. The latter event is Il relief to the
friends of conservative legislation, as it leaves
the Senate 20 to II in favor of the Republicans
instead of the anticipated majority of one
vote, and that one not e>tcenlc, rs reliable for
the party.
On the fourteenth of last April your columns
printed these words from my pen: "When
the Republican party is true to itself and the
best interests of the State; when it cXcom-
municates the Boss and dictates its own
pocy-then may dwellers in other common
wcalths look for Rhode Island to resume her
place in the vanguard Mr.. Editor, must
vacate my position as prophet of State affairs.
So accurately have my predictions been verified
that | can gracefully retire upon a record a>
yet unbroken. The defeat and return to power
of the Grand Old Party have been foreseen and
accomplished Let Us hope for Il long and con-
sistent reign; and may this solution of Il ques
ton, considered by the Boston Herald rs 1.-THE
most important from Il national point of view
of any of the contests held that day. only
serve to increase the arlor of Republicans in
other States pcrceptibly victory would
have encouraged the Democrats throughout
the country.
The Hon William Z. Frye, of your State,
and senators -\drich and Chase, of Rhode Is
land. deserve the praise of intelligent citizens
for the ycoman service they performed in dis
cussng the merits of protective tariff. Not
stone was left nntnrncd i'll exposing the falla-
cies of free trade, and in no small measure are
they responsible for the increase of party
strength at the polls. On the nights just pre-
ce,ling the election Senat or Frye joined his col
leagues. and by graphic descriptions of the
condition of mechanics in foreign countries
emphasized Senator Aldrich's exhaustive cN-
positions of tariff legislation. as attempted in
the past and proposed for the future.
But how do the Democrats sustain the
crushing defeat of their most sanguinc hopes:
In the very worst way possible. They recover
from their surprise only to vow that Mr.. Ar
mold will never be seated in Congress. 1t sud-
denly occurs to mind that the election was Il
Very corrupt affair. Judge Bradleys support
crs We're pure and innocent lambs slaughtered
by the wolves in Arnold's employ. And this in
spite of the supervision of 81 deputy marshal>,
appointed by Democratic solicitation, only two
of whom refer to suspected bribery in their re-
pf
man in Rhode Island is 80 competent to speak
Us the editor of the Providence Daily journal,
for no one enjoys anything like his facilities for
ascertainng what has occurred in the contested
territory. In an editorial this morning he
says: There is the usual howl about bribery
and corruption in the late election from the
defeated Democrats. If they are prudent
they will remain quiet under their defeat. 1t
was a fair. honest and clean campaign on the
part of the Republicans, and neither the cand:-
date nor his friends gave or authorized the use
of any money for egtimate purposes. *
We repeat that if the Democrats are wise they
will drop their silly talk and place the response
bility for their defeat where 1t belongs, on the
issue of the industrial policy of the country,
and on the exhibition of the boss clement in
their own party
| should be sadly remiSs in duty if my pen
ignored the part enacted by the Prohbitory
Party in the recent election. for their inconsst-
ences have proved Il prolific source of CORE
spondcnce in the past. Their progress may be
best stated by summary of the vote east in
the last three Congressional! elections in this
district. In November, 1854, out Of Il total
vote of 15410 the Prohbtory candidate re-
ceived 900, or almost ten per cent; the Re
publican majority was sixteen. In 1856, in Il
vote of 1l.25S the Prohibitory ticket pollcd
s52, or something over seven per cent, and
, there was no election. Last Tuesday, from n
total vote of IL $50 the party secured only 292
ballots. or not quite two per cent. The de-
| cadence has occurred since the Prohibitory
Amendment was placed in our constitution.
Various explanations OF this falling off are
proffcred by different individuals, and thus
each is satisfied with his own solution. My
views have been abundantly expressed hereto
fore.
Promptly on the day of election Governor
Davis issued his proclamation convening the
General Assembly in special session to begin
Nov. 18th. His act is viewed as that of Il par
tisan by many citizens. delayed to an hour
when it would not affect the interests of his
party. The leading Democratic paper in his
his course sis marked by that nice sense of
official propriety which has distinguished his
service in the executive chair" ''Most lame
and impotent conclusion" The treasury is
depleted and funds must he provided for the
present administration. This is a new kind
so change the constitution that Republicans
may never regain control of State affairs. This
means the adjustment of our registry tax
system, if possible. There will bc no end of
| wildcat legislation if handful of headstrong
Democrats-better classified as demagogues =
are humored in the belief that they know
better than the remaining 100000 inhabitants
just what is needed The Providence Journal
voices public opinion when it aptly says: at
is an ll-advised and unnecessary step, but now
that it has been taken it is only necessary to
say that unless the Democratic party acts with
more wisdom and honesty than it has hereto
fore done in proposing violent changes in the
constitutional law for merely partisan adyan-
tage, it will dig its political grave so deep that
another twenty-five years will be necessary for
/ its resurrection"
At length the city of Providence is promised
something substantial in the line of improving
its terminal facilities. Mayor Robbins has Sc
j lccted a commission of expert railroad eng-
necrs in Messrs. ]. NJ. Wilson. of Philadelphia
a. +. Boiler, of New York and Don Juan
Whittemore, of Milwaukee,. These gentlemen
have arrived and commenced to survey the
railroad layouts. 1t is hoped their laEors will
result in the submission of plans acceptable te
all citizens, and that needed improvements may
be inaugurated as speedily as possible. With
prOppr railroad facilities tho SocOuI rity tJ